There Is Hope!

I have always admired Halle Berry, the African-American actress who has diabetes, for maintaining a sugar-free diet and controlling her illness without the use of insulin. The difference between her and my son; however, is that she has type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes requires that the individual utilize insulin numerous times a day, usually before or after meals, in order to regulate blood sugar levels. My son is on the Omni pod wireless pump as well as the Dexcom continuous glucose monitor so my hope of eliminating insulin from our lives has never been high. As I continue to research and learn more about the disease, a glimmer of light shines through Karla Edge, a woman who has type 1 diabetes and has been insulin-free for eleven years. Karla's story can be read in the November 23, 2016 Miami Herald newspaper: <http://www.miamiherald.com/living/health-fitness/article116583113.html>

For those who are not as lucky as Karla, the advances in medical technology still offer optimism for individuals living with the disease. In a July 2017 Click2Houston article, health reporter Haley Hernandez highlights a device that is being considered a life-changing medical breakthrough for type 1 diabetics. The 'artificial pancreas' has already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and will enhance the quality of life for T1D patients and their families. Read this article to learn more about this new device: <http://www.click2houston.com/news/device-could-help-people-with-type-1-diabetes>

Have you or anyone you know been able to maintain an insulin-free life while coping with type 1 diabetes?